The Yuan-ti resided in the Hollow of Ssthern; a city which was built underneath the surface in this northern continent. It also housed a great repository for Magic literature. These Yuan-ti were at war with the a well organized tribe of Goliaths who wanted the Hollow of Ssthern as their own. The land being sacred to the Yuan-ti - as they believed it to be a resting place of their god of worship - would defend it with their last breath. Yuan-ti not commonly having good relations with many civilizations appealed to the head of a group Human settlements near the coast within close proximity to their dwelling. The humans agreed to aid the Yuan-ti in their skirmish; however, they wanted the Yuan-ti to school them in the ways of magic. The terms were set, and this was the beginning of a long lasting partnership between the two races. The Sicites as they called themselves were a group of 6 small cities/towns close to one another on the North Western Coast on the Northern Continent. These towns were predominantly human with a smattering of other races mixed in.
History of the Volean Empire
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1736
5
The Armistice of Ssthern and the Sicites
Diplomatic action -
1705
3 /2
Discovery of the Scrolls of Vol
Discovery, ExplorationFor a long time the Yuan-ti have been searching for a set of scrolls which contain the knowledge of magics believed to be a gift from Oroboros. As the Relationship between the Humans and the Yuan-ti strengthened they embarked upon excursions with one another. One such excursion was for these scrolls, it was headed by a human and arcanist named Torrydin who was credited with the discovery. Deep beneath the Ruins of Oreme on an Archipelago off the North-Western coast they found 40 Golden parchments which seemed to be in the shapes of scales. The words shifted as they read from them, and found they contained much more knowledge than first appeared. Upon returning to the communities the scrolls were shared amongst them strengthening their knowledge. Most people became adept in the very basics of magics. These scrolls caused a golden age of magic for the Human here as well as the Yuan-ti.
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1567
14 /6
The Sicites transition to a Mageocracy
Cultural eventWith trade routes connecting the 6 cities to one another and to Ssthern The 6 cities of the Sicites made the decision to form a new type of government away from the previously established one to change into a Mageocracy. By this point everyone in the cities could freely use at least the most basics of magic and was transforming their day to day lives. In the centre of the cities they established a convergence point which could connect them all. This being the central research, educational, and facility of governance, known as Erudition district. This would be the place where new magics were tested, created and established. Each school of magic is run by a member of the ruling council as well. The Yuan-ti were invited to participate in the council as well. The Armistice was no longer needed and The two societies had become quite the allies to one another. The Yuan-ti would remain in charge of Abjuration, Conjuration, and Illusion, while to Humans kept watch over Enchantment, Evocation, Necromancy, and Transmutation. They also agreed that a non-Human and non-Yuan-ti would take dominion over the Divination School. One leader of note was in charge of the school of Necromancy, who was known as V'Shal. He has been the only one to ever be in charge of this school of Magic.
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1438
22 /6
The Brass Road
Diplomatic actionThe Dwarves reveal themselves to the world above. The Council of Vol and the Tempered Synod met several times before formally beginning negotiations to establish a trade Route with the Dwarves. It wasn't for about 5 years that it was finally establish that they would create what would be known as the Brass road - a trade route from The Sicities running safely into the Underground stronghold of Gor Turin. This relationship lasted for Several years and both sides benefitted in teaming up when they needed to against the Orcs. The Dwarves didn't hold the Goliaths with the same contempt that The Voleans did. There were exchanges of weapons, The dwarves in turn learned some of artificerey. Also both of the regions being a dichotomy to one another offered insights into different flora and fauna; it was an educational exchange for both sides. The Dwarves helped with some architectural designs for the Voleans.
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1258
28 /7
The Creation of the Arcasomnodae
Scientific achievementV'Shal had gained prominence and renown with his research into Necromancy, making sure the public known it would only be used for the benefit of the citizens of Vol. He also became fast known for his Artificing; with being alive for so long he was able to keep researching new methods and expanding his knowledge base. He created objects known as the Arcasomnodae. These were great spherical object that shone with a golden brilliance. These allowed the creation of magical items to be made without draining the lifeforce of it's creator. Basically these objects tapped into the raw unfiltered magics of the weave. Magic items were bound created this was to a 3kilometre radius around the Arcasomnodae. The Arcasomnodae were used, as well, to levitate the cities, thus beginning the Empire of Vol. It also created another city below known as Lower Vol. Mostly agriculture was done by the citizens of Lower Vol to supply upper Vol with a constant source of nourishment. Frustrated with the constant besetting upon their cities by Orcs and Goblins and that of the like, V'shal headed to the Jotunspine Fjelds and with a combination of a Levitation and Chronomancy's Gravitic reversal he sheared off a mountain, and placed a Arcasomnodae on the centre of the flat side of the mountain and rotating it effectively giving him a surface to place a city upon. The Floating City was created using an 11th Level spell called V'Shal's Sactuary. The schools / magical research facilities migrated to this city as well as several high powered mages and practitioners of magic who wanted to live in a place free from those wanting to steal their achievements, or destroy what they have been building. Magic items became house hold and commonplace. The price of magic items bound to the cities were a fraction of the usual cost but those which would work outside of the bound of the city came at triple the cost.
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1250
Enslavement of the Desert Gnomes
Life, Trauma/ LossWhen the City of Vol Was established the Wizards required people to help build and construct their building. They subjugated the Gnomes having them serve the new Vol empire. The Humans were the ones to establish this. The Yuan-Ti and the Humans did not see eye to eye on this - the Yuan-Ti mostly kept their opinions to themselves - and over the centuries they found that the humans had their eyes and hands full of other things. Over the more recent times, the Yuan-Ti have helped migrate the Desert Gnomes elsewhere and emancipated them.
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5
16 /5
Emergence of the Veldwerg
Geological / environmental eventThe Veldwerg - a species the emerged from The Underdark for reasons unknown to The Vol Empire. The Veldwerg seemed to have a hunger for Magic itself and were bent on bringing down The City of Vol to feast on its bounty. They however couldn't manage to get into the Floating city. Their plan was to starve out the city by blighting the land. Magic users in their own right, these huge aberrations are conical shaped with a large circular Maw of teeth at the large end. Due to this threat, V'Shal became reclusive, not necessarily knowing it was these creatures, but a blight affecting the Land. He retreated into his work completely and passed over his day-to-day work off to other Arcanists. This threat consumed him. In V'Shals absence another Arcanist, Vaela Thenn, The youngest to create a floating Sanctum - at age 29, which was Tethered to Vol- stepped up to the plate and took up V'Shals Mantle. She was not only interested in Necromancy, but In all diverse magics endeavoring to create classes of her own, She opened a centre to study the phenomena and to combat the destruction happening to the areas surrounding Lower Vol. She genuinely felt that the future of The Vol Empire rested on her shoulders.